Almost 800 young people in Teesside receives help to stop re-offending
There's been a six percent re-offending rate since a project launched a year ago
Almost 800 young people across Teesside have received help to stop them from committing further crimes.
There is been a six percent re-offending rate since a project launched a year ago supporting those aged 10 to 24 who come to Middlesbrough's custody suite.
A dedicated team aims to address the underlying reasons for the youth becoming involved in serious violence and trying to prevent it.
Will Swinburne is a custody navigator and he said: "This is our what we call the breakout room, so when we take a young person from the cell to do our intervention and speak with them, this is just a bit of a nicer environment so we find that the change of environment helps them to open up and breaks down a few barriers that they're not in the cell anymore.
"You'll see that we have like fidget toys, some distraction stuff, books, footballs and games like Connect 4, if we're in here for a while, it sort of distracts their minds and when they're not focussing so much on where they are, it just allows them to open up and talk.
"It's just reducing the trauma for them as well so obviously you've got a lot of young people coming in who are 10, 11 and 12 years-old, so reducing that trauma for them moving forward is also a big thing, not just being able to do that work but reducing that for them because they probably come from chaotic and traumatic lives as it is, so if we can reduce that while they're here also helps."
The project
Cleveland’s flagship trauma-based intervention project has helped almost 800 young people since it was launched 12 months ago. 
Cleveland’s Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV) worked with Middlesbrough Council’s South Tees Youth Justice Services (YJS), to employ a team of custody navigators in August last year. 
The team of four is based at the Youth Focused Custody Suite in Middlesbrough Police Station and supports those aged between 10-24 who are involved in – or at risk of – serious violence. 
After engaging with detainees and identifying their needs, navigators agree a bespoke package of help and signpost participants to further support.  
The package aims to address the underlying reasons for participants becoming involved in serious violence. Those reasons could include issues with drink, drugs or mental health.
All young people seen by the custody navigators receive a 24-hour follow-up call and home visit within five working days.
In the last year, the team has made 724 interventions within custody and worked with 203 first-time offenders.
After those sessions, there has only been a six per cent re-offending rate for first time offenders.
On average, the custody navigators complete around 8-10 community-based sessions and attend multi-agency meetings, where appropriate, dependant on individual circumstances for the young people they come into contact with.
In the last 12 months, they have also worked with 126 young people who were not previously open to another service.
The custody navigators also attended a variety of multi-agency meetings in relation to young people already known to services, in the last year this has equated to approximately 250 meetings.
Kay Dargue, Head of the South Tees Youth Justice Service (YJS), said: “This ground-breaking project is a vital layer of support for some of our most vulnerable young people, and has delivered real and lasting results in its first year.
“The custody navigators are there for young people both in custody and in the community at a point when they may still be receptive to the support that could help steer them away from a life of crime.”
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey, added: “The role of a custody navigator is unique. They are passionate and equally knowledgeable in working with some of the most vulnerable members of the community to establish the root cause of their offending and encourage them to want to live a better life away from violence and crime. 
“The results speak for themselves when it comes to the impact the work of the navigators is having on young people, their families and therefore the whole Cleveland community. 
“This multi-agency way of working is vital as we adopt a consistent and persistent approach to tackling crime and serious violence for the long-term.”